diff --git a/libdm/.exported_symbols.DM_1_02_106 b/libdm/.exported_symbols.DM_1_02_106
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ce8924c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libdm/.exported_symbols.DM_1_02_106
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+dm_message_supports_precise_timestamps
diff --git a/libdm/ioctl/libdm-iface.c b/libdm/ioctl/libdm-iface.c
index 73af12b7a..fe0bffacd 100644
--- a/libdm/ioctl/libdm-iface.c
+++ b/libdm/ioctl/libdm-iface.c
@@ -604,6 +604,20 @@ static int dm_inactive_supported(void)
 	return inactive_supported;
 }
 
+int dm_message_supports_precise_timestamps(void)
+{
+	/*
+	 * 4.32.0 supports "precise_timestamps" and "histogram:" options
+	 * to @stats_create messages but lacks the ability to report
+	 * these properties via a subsequent @stats_list: require at
+	 * least 4.33.0 in order to use these features.
+	 */
+	if (dm_check_version() && _dm_version >= 4)
+		if (_dm_version_minor >= 33)
+			return 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 void *dm_get_next_target(struct dm_task *dmt, void *next,
 			 uint64_t *start, uint64_t *length,
 			 char **target_type, char **params)
diff --git a/libdm/libdevmapper.h b/libdm/libdevmapper.h
index af08ba32d..2be2ce37b 100644
--- a/libdm/libdevmapper.h
+++ b/libdm/libdevmapper.h
@@ -464,6 +464,15 @@ int dm_stats_bind_name(struct dm_stats *dms, const char *name);
  */
 int dm_stats_bind_uuid(struct dm_stats *dms, const char *uuid);
 
+/*
+ * Test whether the running kernel supports the precise_timestamps
+ * feature. Presence of this feature also implies histogram support.
+ * The library will check this call internally and fails any attempt
+ * to use nanosecond counters or histograms on kernels that fail to
+ * meet this check.
+ */
+int dm_message_supports_precise_timestamps(void);
+
 #define DM_STATS_ALL_PROGRAMS ""
 /*
  * Parse the response from a @stats_list message. dm_stats_list will